From the pages of my journal 5/1/2013

We took some fun new friends out shopping to show them where we buy our Curry Land digs. We had a good time together and for me the shopping was about spending quality time with my friends...because to be really honest I am tired of Suits (3 pieces made up of scarf, tunic top, and drawstring pants that all women wear here for modesty). Buying them, getting them tailored and then wearing them...so much money, time and energy goes into it and them at the end of the day it is just a suit and the fabric reminds me of couches, curtains, or pillow covers...it is easy to feel clownish with all the colors and prints going on. But frankly, I've got to get over my suit slump because staying in my yoga pants and tank tops is just not going to cut it.

From the pages of my journal 4/18/2013

Z and Art are off to M town and Abi is down for her morning nap - I have found a very peaceful morning. Yesterday my morning started at 5am. Perry drove me to the capital to pick up a perspective client. Perry beat his record and we made it to the capital and back in under 3 hours...of coarse he drove like a mad man the entire way.
Speaking of the perspective client...we took her out the village and the women there taught her how to make some of the jewelry using the new wire techniques we taught them. Her first loop did not pass their inspection and Sunny quickly cut it off and made her start over. It was funny to see but also heartwarming that their standards now match our standards.

From the pages of my journal 4/16/2013

Yesterday I quickly got all my house work done and we went off to spend the day in Katauli with some of Art's relatives. We were there for five hours. Art's relatives are great and really gentle people. Abi thoroughly enjoyed every minute playing with loads of children and eating different fruits, cookies, and curry! She did not sleep the entire day...way too much to see and do. So when we put her to bed we didn't hear a peep from her all night. Meanwhile the rest of the evening I vegged to recorded episodes of 'Duck Dynasty' - other shows seem so boring and full of senseless drama in comparison.

From the pages of my journal 3/18/2013

This weekend I caught up on a lot of housework. Now it is Monday morning and I look around me and see baby socks on the bed, wash clothes on the table, sippy cups on the floor and sofa. This home is deffinitely lived in. Our baby is on the move picking up little things and redepositing them in different spots throughout the house. It is a constant pick up and put away game with her around. The entire time she is going through the house happy, giggling, and gabbering. It really is heart warming to watch. Not very many people parent with rigidity here in Curry Land. They do not expect my home to be clean and orderly. They graciously smile and love on my child even when she is not acting like a little angel. Their attitudes have really helped me develope into a calm and patient mother.

From the pages of my Journal 3/15/2013

Last night and this morning I have enjoyed pleasant weather - there has been a nice cool breeze blowing. I love these days and take advantage of them before summer hits. So I got exercise out of the way around 7:45am and then watered the plants & washed the car.
Abi was playing in the patio while I was working. Unfortunately it only took her under 1 minute to slip away from me and head up the marble stairs. I did not know where she had gone until I saw my baby rolling down the stairs. Thankfully she was not hurt, no bumps, breaks or bruises. I think she was more startled than anything.
This week has been full of accidents. The day before yesterday Art got into a motorcycle accident and was scraped up pretty bad. Then I was cleaning the bathrooms with a toilet bowl cleaner that contains hydrochloric acid and one little drop got into my left eye. Instantly that eye started burning and I momentarily lost vision. Z and I quickly rinsed my eye with water for 10 minutes. My eye is still sore from the incident but it is getting better everyday...and we had a good laugh when I put a make shift eye patch on.
We are all weary this week and trying to get work done - and because we are in Curry Land, little stresses keep piling up everyday. The gas cylinder for our stove runs out, no water for hours, no power for hours. All these little things mound up like little road blocks/ set backs on the coarse of a day's productivity. Then we look back over our day & week and wonder 'what did we accomplish?' So much time and energy was eaten up by the road blocks. The set backs will never go away so we must find a way to use them for good. So many times they have a negative effect on my outlook and perception of life here when really deep down inside I love my life here. And if everything ran smoothly, Curry Land would not be the everyday adventure that has made life so endearing.

From the pages of my journal

I have decided to add something new to the blog this year...from time to time I will post entries from my journal. I am an avid journaler, not such an avid blogger - so the journal is loaded with lots of stories, contemplations, musings and pages upon pages of raw emmotions and shame...Maybe you will you laugh with me, cry with me, be inspired, be encouraged, or maybe you will be so traumatized you will never frequent this blog again. Or if you are like me you easily become drawn into trainwrecks like those shameful reality TV shows that I really should not be watching.